Mandatory minicamps are underway for the New York Jets but it appears that quarterback Aaron Rodgers had more important things to do.
According to ESPN Jets insider Rich Cimini, Rodgers is not attending minicamp today. But Jets head coach Robert Saleh said that it is not an excused absence, which would make him subject to fines from the team. However, Saleh noted that it’s a previous engagement which Rodgers deemed “important to him.”
“Aaron Rodgers also is not attending minicamp. It is NOT excused, per Saleh. Therefore, he is subject to fine. Saleh said Rodgers had a previous engagement, an event that is ‘important to him.’ #Jets,” Cimini wrote.
As the league’s oldest player, Rodgers doesn’t exactly need to attend the minicamps to get up to speed on the offense. But with the team having completely rebuilt the offensive line this past offseason, it would probably behoove him to spend as much time with the linemen as possible.
Rodgers played only a handful of snaps in 2023 before suffering a season-ending injury and effectively dooming the Jets’ season.
As Rodgers himself has said, the mission for 2024 is clear: Make the playoffs, or at least play great on a weekly basis, or everyone is going to lose their jobs.
Skipping a mandatory minicamp without getting an excused absence is really not a good start.